Chapter 147. Heading to the Kumogakure Frontline

Chapter 147 - 147. Heading to the Kumogakure FrontlineHanekawa sat beside Tsunade, surveying the room. The meeting room, as a place for high-level discussions, clearly reflected the power structure of Konoha Village. At the head of the room sat Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, facing a group of Special Jōnin and Jōnin. Flanking him were the Hokage advisors, Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane, as well as Danzo Shimura, the Hokage's assistant. Tsunade was seated in the front row, closest to the Hokage. On the same row were other prominent figures such as Orochimaru, Hiashi Hyuga, Fugaku Uchiha, Inoichi Yamanaka, Choza Akimichi, and Shikaku Nara. Several seats in the first row were empty, likely reserved for Jiraiya, Torifu Akimichi, Sakumo Hatake, or Minato Namikaze, who were occupied with missions and unable to attend the meeting. Behind them sat the heads of smaller clans and notable Jōnin like Hizashi Hyuga. "Today, I've gathered everyone here because we've received two critical pieces of intelligence," Hiruzen began, speaking in an unhurried tone. "The first concerns a serious conflict between Rasa and Pakura of Sunagakure." Hanekawa's thoughts immediately began to churn. After the disappearance of the Third Kazekage, Rasa took over as acting Kazekage. With his immense strength and the prolonged absence of the Third, Rasa eventually secured his position as the Fourth Kazekage. Rasa was the father of Gaara, Kankuro, and Temari. Pakura, one of Sunagakure's top Jōnin, was tragically sacrificed during the war. In the Third Shinobi World War, Sunagakure, unable to continue battling Kirigakure, devised a cunning plan. The Kazekage and the Sunagakure higher-ups sent Pakura on a covert mission to Kirigakure. However, upon reaching her destination, she was ambushed by Kirigakure shinobi and ultimately perished. "Why did the conflict arise?" Homura Mitokado asked in confusion. "Recently, Rasa was the target of an assassination attempt, which was later confirmed to have been orchestrated by Pakura," Hiruzen explained. "Although Pakura denies it, her relationship with Rasa has deteriorated to the point of hostility." "Why hasn't the Third Kazekage stepped in to mediate?" Koharu Utatane frowned. While Rasa and Pakura were both strong contenders for the Kazekage position, an open rivalry seemed unreasonable given that the Third Kazekage had yet to step down. "The Third Kazekage hasn't been seen for a long time," Hiruzen said solemnly. "I suspect he is either missing or deceased." "What?!" The room erupted into murmurs of shock and disbelief. Even though they were seasoned shinobi, the sudden news was hard to process. It felt akin to learning that Hiruzen Sarutobi himself had gone missing or died—a surreal and almost dreamlike scenario. "What an opportunity!" Danzo Shimura's eyes gleamed as he spoke, "We should immediately mobilize our forces and launch an attack on Sunagakure. We can defeat them swiftly!" As a staunch advocate for war, Danzo's proposal came as no surprise. Moreover, the idea of exploiting this rare chance drew approving nods from several Jōnin. "That's unwise," Homura Mitokado countered, frowning. "If we know about this, so will Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and Kirigakure." His implication was clear: the chaotic state of the shinobi world meant that any large-scale movement by Konoha could provoke the other villages into action, potentially leaving Konoha vulnerable to attacks on multiple fronts. "Konoha is the strongest shinobi village. Why should we fear them?" Danzo exclaimed, slamming his hand on the table. "Have you all forgotten the honor of being the First Shinobi Village?" "Danzo!" Hiruzen shot him a stern glare, forcing Danzo to sit back down with a disgruntled huff. While Danzo's outburst was partially genuine, it was also a calculated move. If war broke out, his faction, Root, would no longer face restrictions, allowing them to act with impunity. And he truly believed that Konoha wouldn't lose. After all, in the first two Shinobi World Wars, Konoha hadn't necessarily emerged as the overwhelming victor but had never been the loser either. "I'll now share the second piece of intelligence," Hiruzen said after a brief pause. "Yesterday, Minato discovered a deployment of 400 Kumogakure shinobi along the Land of Lightning's border." "What does that mean?" "Is Kumogakure planning to start a war?" "But 400 shinobi isn't enough for an all-out war!" The Jōnin began debating fervently. "This is a provocation by Kumogakure!" Danzo said indignantly. "We should retaliate!" "It does seem like a provocation," Koharu Utatane agreed. "Lord Hokage," Shikaku Nara stood and asked thoughtfully, "Is it possible that these two events are connected?" "Do you mean an alliance between Kumogakure and Sunagakure?" Hiruzen shook his head. "Given the personality of the Third Raikage, that's highly unlikely." "No matter what Kumogakure is planning, we must stop them!" Danzo Shimura declared righteously, "Leave it to Root. I guarantee they won't return alive!" "Silence!" Hiruzen Sarutobi halted the argument, setting the tone. "Konoha will not initiate a war." "Hiruzen, you're being too cautious!" Danzo looked disappointed. "This is a missed opportunity!" "I simply wish to avoid unnecessary losses for Konoha," Hiruzen said calmly. "And the situation with Sunagakure remains unclear; it might even be a trap." "Hiruzen makes a valid point," Homura Mitokado agreed. "What if the Third Kazekage's disappearance is deliberate?" "We'll assign the Anbu to investigate Sunagakure," Hiruzen decided after some thought. "At the same time, we'll closely monitor the other villages and increase border patrols." "And Kumogakure..." Danzo began, only to be interrupted. "Tsunade, take 400 shinobi to support Minato," Hiruzen instructed. "Prioritize stabilizing the situation." He had initially considered sending Orochimaru, but his temperament, similar to Danzo's, might escalate the conflict. "Hiruzen!" Danzo called instinctively. "I am the Hokage!" Hiruzen ended the debate firmly. Danzo trembled with rage but could do nothing. Tsunade frowned slightly, glancing at Hanekawa. She had wanted to refuse such a troublesome mission, but then she reconsidered. This could be an excellent training opportunity. A force of 400 shinobi was neither too large nor too small. Given the current circumstances, the Third Shinobi World War seemed inevitable. Before it began, it would be wise to let Hanekawa and the others gain experience through A-rank or S-rank missions. "Meeting adjourned," Hiruzen announced, pausing briefly. "Tsunade, stay behind." Danzo, clearly displeased, was the first to leave. Soon, only Tsunade and Hanekawa remained in the room. "Any further instructions?" Tsunade asked. "This isn't about Kumogakure—it's about the Akatsuki," Hiruzen said with a smile. "Jiraiya has successfully established cooperation with the Akatsuki a few days ago." "What does that have to do with me?" Tsunade waved dismissively. "You handle it. Don't drag me into this." "Since this was originally your and Hanekawa's idea, I thought it was worth informing you both," Hiruzen replied, unfazed by her attitude. "Who will oversee the deployment of the 400 shinobi?" Tsunade shifted the topic. "I'll have Shikaku accompany you as your strategist," Hiruzen said with a smile. "You won't need to do much—just show up." His reasons for sending Tsunade were twofold: to prevent Kumogakure from causing trouble and to deter and contain them. Few shinobi in Konoha had the ability to accomplish this, apart from the Sannin or Sakumo Hatake. As for himself and the two Hokage advisors, they would only take the field as a last resort. "Alright," Tsunade nodded slightly. Sёarch* The Nôvel(F)ire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She was satisfied with this arrangement, as it would further provide Hanekawa and the others with training opportunities. "What do you think of the situation with Sunagakure?" Hiruzen suddenly asked. "You didn't share your opinion earlier." "Hanekawa, your turn!" Tsunade slapped Hanekawa on the back. "...?" Hanekawa, who had been quietly observing, was caught off guard. "Hanekawa, if you have thoughts, speak up," Hiruzen said, glancing at him. "Your suggestion about supporting the Akatsuki was quite insightful." "The claim that Pakura attacked Rasa is highly suspicious," Hanekawa said after a brief thought. "It's likely a setup, possibly orchestrated by Kumogakure." "Interesting," Hiruzen said, a hint of surprise in his tone. "You have a sharp perspective." He had previously assumed the idea of supporting the Akatsuki was Tsunade's, with Hanekawa as a mere figurehead. Now, it seemed that might not be the case. "Whoever is behind this, their goal is to incite internal conflict within Sunagakure," Hanekawa added. "Internal strife in Sunagakure works to our advantage as well," Hiruzen remarked with a sly smile. Hanekawa thought to himself, As expected of the old fox. Konoha's avoidance of war was likely a front. If there was a benefit to be gained, Hiruzen wouldn't miss the opportunity. Still, as Danzo had said, Hiruzen was cautious. Without sufficient certainty, he wouldn't act recklessly. "Let's go," Tsunade said as she turned to leave. Hanekawa bid Hiruzen farewell and quickly followed her. "War is coming again," Tsunade sighed as they exited the Hokage Tower. "Konoha will definitely win," Hanekawa reassured. "There's no such thing as a guaranteed victory in war," Tsunade replied, glancing at him. "Regardless of who wins or loses, the cost will always be high." Hanekawa nodded slightly. Even though he had an external advantage and was Tsunade's student, he couldn't guarantee his absolute safety. After all, even someone as skilled as the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, who had the Flying Thunder God Technique, had fallen in battle. "Don't be too nervous. With me here, you'll be fine," Tsunade said with a smile. This time, she was determined not to let another tragedy like Nawaki's occur. It was a comforting moment, but Hanekawa couldn't help thinking, Please don't jinx it before a battle! "With a force of 400 shinobi, it's unlikely to escalate into a large-scale battle. It'll mostly involve reconnaissance and small-team skirmishes," Tsunade explained as they walked. "But the intensity will be much higher than regular missions, so you need to be mentally prepared." "I understand," Hanekawa said with a nod. "You've always been mature, so I won't lecture too much. Just remember one thing—always act cautiously," Tsunade advised. "Got it." Hanekawa couldn't help but smile. "It's rare to see you being this long-winded, sensei." "Oh? Do you have a problem with that?" Tsunade raised her hand and flicked his forehead. "Not at all," Hanekawa said seriously. "Every word you say is etched into my mind!" "It better be!" Tsunade replied, glaring at him. They returned home, and within an hour, there was a knock at the door. "Lady Tsunade," It was Shikaku Nara who entered. "How are the preparations?" Tsunade asked, nodding slightly. "Here is the list of 400 shinobi assigned to the mission," Shikaku said, handing her a document. "No issues," Tsunade said after a quick glance. The lowest rank on the list was Chūnin, which was necessary for such a demanding task involving Kumogakure. "I'll inform them shortly," Shikaku said, pausing. "When do we depart?" "Tomorrow morning at nine," Tsunade replied after a moment's thought. "A day should be sufficient." "Understood." Shikaku nodded and handed her another document. "This is the current battlefield situation report from Minato." Tsunade's expression turned serious as she reviewed it. The main battleground was in the Land of Frost, a small country on the border of the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning. Leading Kumogakure's forces were the infamous "A-B Combo" – Ay and Killer B. The bigger challenge was Killer B, who made no effort to hide his identity as the Jinchūriki of the Eight-Tails. As a Jinchūriki, he had the potential to drastically alter the course of the battle. If he fully transformed into the Eight-Tails, the consequences would be catastrophic. Tsunade rubbed her forehead. It was a shame they couldn't bring Kushina Uzumaki along. Unlike Kumogakure, Konoha kept strict control over its Jinchūriki. "I see," Tsunade said, returning the document to Shikaku. "I'll take my leave then," Shikaku said, standing. While Tsunade could take a hands-off approach, Shikaku had to manage the logistics and coordination of the mission. "Hanekawa, you go notify Rin and Kurenai," Tsunade instructed. "Understood," Hanekawa replied. That evening, after cooking dinner for Tsunade, Hanekawa visited Rin Nohara's house to inform her before heading to Kurenai Yuhi's home. Kurenai didn't have much of an understanding of war, but her father, Shinku Yuhi, took the situation very seriously. After dinner, Shinku shared survival tips for the battlefield, such as "fake fights." "In large-scale battles, a genjutsu user can control an enemy and fake a fight with them," Shinku explained. Hanekawa listened with mixed feelings. Your interpretation of the Will of Fire seems questionable... But he couldn't deny that these techniques significantly improved survival rates on the battlefield. --- The next day. Hanekawa woke up early, planning to visit Tsuchihashi before departing for the Kumogakure frontlines. "You're just in time," Tsuchibashi greeted him. "I was about to look for you." "What is it?" Hanekawa asked, raising an eyebrow. "The information about the Third Kazekage's disappearance has been confirmed," Tsuchihashi said, handing over a scroll with a smile. "Here's a reward from Kumogakure for you." Hanekawa's heart skipped a beat as he opened the scroll, but he was disappointed. It wasn't the Lightning Release Chakra Mode he had hoped for but three Lightning Release taijutsu techniques: Lateral Bolt of Pain, Lightning Burial: Furious Lightning Axe, and Overwhelming Force Flow. __ New entry: This Danzo Is Weird Patreon.com/rashta Be a member so you can read: New. 420 adv ch of This Danzo Is Weird 1. 300 adv ch of Talent System In Naruto 2. 560 adv ch of Qian Renxue's Younger Brother 3. 270 adv ch of Uchiha Madara's Cousin 4. 163 adv ch of WDQK: Divorcing Ling Qingzhu (Complete)